Original concerns that cloning caused early-onset osteoarthritis (OA) in Dolly the sheep are unfounded, say experts at the University of Nottingham and the University of Glasgow.

The team, who published last year’s Nottingham Dollies research which showed that the 8 year-old Nottingham ‘Dollies’ had aged normally, have now published a radiographic assessment of the skeletons of Dolly herself, Bonnie (her naturally conceived daughter) and Megan and Morag (the first two animals to be cloned from differentiated cells).

Their findings – ‘Radiographic assessment of the skeletons of Dolly and other clones finds no abnormal osteoarthritis’ – have been published in the online journal Scientific Reports. They show that the skeletons, stored in the collections of National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh, bear radiographic OA similar to that observed in naturally conceived sheep and Nottingham’s healthy aged clones.

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Kevin Sinclair, Professor of Developmental Biology, in the School of Biosciences, said: “Our findings of last year appeared to be at odds with original concerns surrounding the nature and extent of osteoarthritis in Dolly – who was perceived to have aged prematurely. Yet no formal, comprehensive assessment of osteoarthritis in Dolly was ever undertaken. We therefore felt it necessary to set the record straight.”

Nottingham’s Dolly legacy

The four Nottingham ‘Dollies’ - Debbie, Denise, Dianna and Daisy – were derived from the cell line that gave rise to Dolly. They originated from studies undertaken by Professor Keith Campbell between 2005 and 2007 which sought to improve the efficiency of somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The Dollies were his legacy to the University of Nottingham.

Kevin Sinclair, together with Sandra Corr, Professor of Small Animal Orthopaedic Surgery who has since moved to Glasgow University, and David Gardner, Professor of Physiology at Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science carried out the study into Nottingham’s Dollies.

They concluded that the Nottingham Dollies had aged normally with no clinical signs of OA. They had radiographic evidence of only mild or, in one case, moderate OA.

Their results, published July last year in the academic journal Nature Communications, were in apparent stark contrast to Dolly the Sheep’s diagnosis of early onset OA which led to scientific concern and media debate over the possibility of early-onset- age-related diseases in cloned animals.

Dolly and osteoarthritis

Reports in 2003 that Dolly, the first animal cloned from adult cells, was suffering from osteoarthritis at the age of 5½ led to considerable scientific concern and media debate over the possibility of early-onset age-related diseases in cloned animals.

However, the only formal record of OA in the original Dolly was a brief mention in a conference abstract which reported that Dolly had OA of the left knee. In the absence of the original records the Nottingham team decided to take to the road and find out for themselves whether the concerns were justified.

Radiographic examinations

They travelled to Edinburgh and, with special permission from Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrates at National Museums Scotland, undertook radiographic examinations of the skeletons of Dolly and her contemporary clones.

Professor Corr said: “We found that the prevalence and distribution of radiographic-OA was similar to that observed in naturally conceived sheep, and our healthy aged cloned sheep. As a result we conclude that the original concerns that cloning had caused early-onset OA in Dolly were unfounded.”

Research paper and images

A copy of the research paper that supports the findings of this study are available from the University of Nottingham on request.

Radiograph images are available from the University of Glasgow on request. Copyright the University of Glasgow and the University of Nottingham.

When published the paper will be available via this link.

High res images are available via this dropbox link. Copyright the University of Nottingham.

The cloned sheep at Nottingham

Commercially sheep are rarely kept beyond the age of 6-7 years. Their natural life expectancy rarely extends beyond 9-10 years. The Nottingham Dollies, who would now be over 10 years of age, have been humanely euthanised but their legacy continues. Professor Sinclair and his team are currently undertaking detailed molecular studies to gain a greater insight into the ageing process.

Story credits

More information is available from the University of Nottingham - Professor Kevin Sinclair, in the School of Biosciences on +44 (0)115 951 6053, kevin.sinclair@nottingham.ac.uk; or Lindsay Brooke, Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham, on +44 (0)115 951 5751, lindsay.brooke@nottingham.ac.uk.

For the University of Glasgow - Professor Sandra Corr, Sandra.Corr@glasgow.ac.uk; Or Elizabeth McMeekin, elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk and Ali Howard, ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk at the University of Glasgow.